Pitchfork

Photo by Will Marsh

So, Matador it is. In a posting today on the indie stalwart's Matablog, it was revealed that Matador will release a new album from Sonic Youth, the band's 16th, in "all worldwide territories, save for Japan" in 2009.

Kim, Thurston, Lee, and Steve will reportedly hit the studio this fall to work up the set, their follow-up to 2006's Geffen-issued Rather Ripped. No word yet on whether the album will bear the title The Eternal, bandied about by Norwegian newspaper Dagsavisen and noted in our last report on the band's search for an indie imprint to call its own.

Thurston and Lee-- along with Nels Cline, Tom Verlaine, J Mascis, and others-- will take to New York City's Knitting Factory this Friday night (September 12) for that 50th anniversary celebration of the Fender Jazzmaster guitar. Thurston, Kim, and Lee have a few assorted dates with their various side projects coming up this month, and Sonic Youth have lined up a trio of shows in Italy in October.

Sonic Youth:

10-09 Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
10-10 Bolzano, Italy - Museion
10-11 Bolzano, Italy - Stahlbau Pichler

Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo:

09-12 New York, NY - Knitting Factory *

* with Nels Cline, Tom Verlaine, J Mascis

Thurston Moore:

09-17 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street #
09-19 Monticello, NY - Kutshers Country Club (ATP New York) #
09-27 New York, NY - Stone (as Northampton Wools)
10-13 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom (as Northampton Wools) *

# performing Psychic Hearts
* with the Dead C, Sightings, King Darves

Kim Gordon:

09-26 Saratoga, CA - Montalvo Arts Center (Kim Gordon Meets Phantom Orchard)

Lee Ranaldo:

09-28 Urbana, IL - Krannert Center for the Performing Arts *

* with Bang on a Can All-Stars, Glenn Kotche